First Foreign Port.

[Bill Morrison]

My first foreign port was Dunkirk when I was 14 years old and blue star line, my father's company, had offered me a trip coasting as a supernumerary in order to give me a taste of sea life.
At aged 17 I actually started my sea going career, first port was das Island up the Persian gulf, offshore loading, no shore leave, next port was Gothenburg, again no shore leave, finally got ashore in the next port which was Lisbon where we were in drydock. Had a similar experience as George in #1.
Also spent a number of nights getting drunk in the Texas bar.
Rgds
J.A

Hi John. Almost a carbon copy. Flew to Dunkirk from Southend to join my ship and sign on. Sailed within a couple hours for the Persian Gulf, Kharg Island. Loaded for return to Europe. Went ashore to the British Sailors Society, no alcohol two cans of Coke and a game of snooker!!
Sailed for Antwerp but over come with Heat Exhaustion, lucky to make it. They paid me off in Antwerp so ended my first trip to sea.
Bill.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi Bill.
You have my sympathies, knew what it was like mate
Cheers Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Recall my first port of call being Las Palmas and the lads going ashore to get their fill.
Many would then be seen a few days alter outside the medical center, got far more than their fill.

In Freo we had to take a ferry from the berth to shore, easy going but we did not like the beer there then.
Stuck to Rum and black, thankfully the guy on the ferry helped us ashore.

[John Paulling]

My first o/s port was Antwerp. It was a home run job on the Port Victor. I had joined it in KGV the same day as I had left the Vindicatrix. 31 March 1951I Funny how you can remember some names from the past, but the chief cook on that trip was old Tom Porter. I then did a further 3 deep sea trips with Don Burgess from the Scilly Isles and Capt. Ron Warick.
Other names have faded into the mists of time.
My last trip to sea (which I didn't know at the time) was on the Shell tanker Narica. We parted company in Sydney. She was there having a dry docking ETC the company refused to repair broken equipment in the galley, so as I found out later 9 of the crew had the same idea and jumped ship.
I have been here in NSW for the past 70 odd years now and am beginning to like it here, I think I'll stay. I have been an Australian citizen since 1967 and loving it.
Once a Vindi boy, always a Vindi boy. Still in contact with some on Skype Teams to this day. JP